Cert in Law & Social Thought / Droit et pensée sociale

The Certificate in Law and Social Thought examines law within a humanities and social science context, treating it as an evolving enterprise shaped by moral argument, interpretive practice, and the exercise of force in organizing social life. It is an add-on certificate rather than a stand-alone credential: it is open only to current York students who are already pursuing a degree, and certificate coursework is completed alongside that degree program. Courses draw on philosophical, historical, and sociological approaches to law and legal institutions, examining how legal reasoning and interpretive practice intersect with the broader organization of social life. The certificate is offered by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and admits students in the Fall, Winter, and Summer terms, letting students begin whenever it fits their degree schedule. On completion it is recorded on the transcript alongside the student's primary degree, documenting interdisciplinary study of law's social and philosophical dimensions.